CATANDUANES: PURARAN's Majestic Wave (From a Non-Surfer's Point of View)

One of the top surfing destinations in the country today is Puraran in Baras, Catanduanes.

It is home to “The Majestic Wave” that top surfers from all over the world visit during the surfing season, July to October.

For non-surfers like us, we love Puraran Beach because the beach area is wide and not crowded, the beach-surfer food is yummy, and you can really smell and feel what clean air is all about. Just be careful because the island life in Puraran will seduce you to stay for a couple more days.

Puraran is the top destination in Catanduanes -- here's a photo essay of our experience:

Tita Celia Estrada Soria, the owner of Puraran Surf, is the wife of my mom's first cousin, Tito Rudy.

If you need to know the history and stories about Puraran, this is the place to stay. Talk to Tita Celia about the story of how Australian Peter Sutton first visited Puraran in 1984.

Warren Bolster is credited for branding the wave as "Majestic" in his June 1988 Reconnaissance Report from the Philippines for the Surfer Magazine.

"The relatively few who have stayed to explore the Philippines (mostly those tenacious Aussies), find the islands a top-drawer surf destination, comparable to the better areas around the world.

Now, consider what well-traveled Aussie pro, Matthew Pitts, says of the surf he got in various, barely-charted areas, just on the small island of Catanduanes: "I got a little better waves in Bali later on, but consider the crowd factor and potential, I enjoyed the Philippines more." In the past year, Pitts has returned to Catanduanes three times."

You can see Puraran Beach in the distance and this viewpoint looks like Batanes.

Hooray for Catanduanes!

Overall, we want to go back and spend an entire week here. It's the perfect place to escape and live an island life . . . less crowd, wide beach area, shore winds a-plenty, clean air and food cooked with love.

Manila to ViracBY LAND: RSL Bus Lines has daily Manila to Virac trips.BY AIR: Cebu Pacific has flights to Virac on Mondays, Wednesdays and the entire weekend. BY SEA: From Tabaco City, a ferry boat transports you to Virac or to San Andres Port. Trips are available daily.

Virac to PuraranJeepneys and vans are available for hiring at the Virac pier. Trips are between 6 am and 6 pm. From Baras, hop on a tricycle to Puraran. 30-45 minute travel.